VA Oversight Agency Criticizes WRJ Center

New Hampshire Public Radio

White River Junction — The Department of Veterans Affairs oversight agency is criticizing the VA Medical Center in White River Junction for a number of failures to follow standard hospital procedures and ensure patient safety.

In a report issued by the Office of Inspector General on Tuesday, investigators say they could not gain reasonable assurance that the hospital provides safe moderate sedation or anticoagulation care.

It also listed several other issues pertaining to oversight and data collection.

In the report, VA hospital director Al Montoya agreed with the recommended corrective measures, some of which have already been taken.

The Inspector General’s office noted some of the White River VA’s recent accomplishments: the expansion of veteran access to care through affiliations with other health organizations, and improvements in mental health care for veterans in rural areas.

In a statement, an official with the White River VA said that since the inspection last December, the hospital has “made substantial progress towards closing out the items identified by OIG as opportunities for improvement.”

According to a facility profile with the Inspector General’s report, the VA in White River Junction had a $223 million medical care budget in Fiscal Year 2016; 300,840 outpatients visits and 26,245 individual patients; and 1,047 employees.

The 59-page report can be viewed online at https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-16-00556-244.pdfThe Valley News contributed to this report.